Brake.



Patgnted Dec. 2, |902.-

H. L. SCHAFFNER.

BRAKE. (Application tiled June 20, 1902.)

(nu Model.) 2 sharm-sheet No. 7I 5,l57. Patented Dec. 2, |902. z

' H.v L. .scHAFFNEn- BRAKE. (Applicatiqn med June 20, 1902.) um Model.) 2 sheetssheet 42v` UNTTED STATES HENRY L. SCHAFFNER,I

PATENT OEEICE.

OF FLORENCE, ITALY.

BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. l715,157', dated December 2, 1902.

Application led June 20, 1902.

To a/ZZ whom t Wray conoci/7c:

Bc it known that I, HENRY L. SCHAFFNER, of Florence, Kingdom of Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brakes; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form part of this speciiication.

This invention is an improvement in brakes particularly designed for use on bicycles and motor-cycles; and its object is to produce a powerful quick-acting brake which can be applied by a slight movement of the operat` ing-lever.

Another object is to provide a brake easily attachable to bicycles and the clamping portions of which can be adjusted to a nicety in close proximity to the wheel edges or rim, while being permitted to yield or give in case of a sudden shock or jar or distortion of the wheel when brakes are not applied and can also be readily adjusted to suit any change in position or size of wheel.

Another Objectis to provide a novel brakeapplying device comprising a short thumb-lever partly encircling the handle-bar and arranged thereon in close proximity to the handpiece and adapted to form a comfortable support for the thumb of the rider at all times; also, to provide a brake-lock which can be automatically released by pressure upon the thumb-lever.

The following description explains and the accompanying drawings illustrate the best forms of brake embodying the invention now known to me; but I refer to the claims for concise summaries of the features and combinations constituting the invention and for which I desire protection.

In said drawings, Figure l is a front View of the brake complete as applied to a bicycle, the full lines showing the position assumed when brake is applied and the dotted lines the released position of parts, only portions ofthe bicycle and wheel being shown. Fig. 2 is a side View of Fig. l partly broken. Fig. Sis a View of a modified form of brake, and Fig. 4 a side view thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail.

A A designate the opposite legs of the forks of a bicycle, between which the wheel B ro- Serial No, 112,535. (No model.)

tates, and C designates the steering-head, to which is attached the handle-bar D, all of ordinary or other suitable construction, not claimed herein, and simply partially shown in the drawings.

To the legs A, at opposite sides of the wheel B, are secured clamps l, to which are pivoted the lower ends of opposite brake-levers 2, which extend above the wheel, and their upper ends are provided with the concave-couvex cam bends 2fL 2b, as shown, for the engage ment of rollers 3, which are journaled on pins it, attached to slides 4, mounted on the Opposite ends of a bar 5, having its extremities threaded and provided with adjustable nuts 5, by which the slides 4 can be adjusted toward or from each other, so as to hold the levers 2 in the desired proximity to the wheel. The rollers 3 engage the outer edges of the curved upper ends of the levers 2, and when the bar 5 is lowered, so as to bring the rollers into the concave portions 2a of the levers, the brake will be released, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l. When raised, as shown in full lines, Fig. l, to engage the convex portion 2" of the levers, the brake is applied. The sleeves 4 may be provided with guide-lugs 4b,

partly embracing the levers, as shown in Fig.

l, to prevent lateral disengagement of rollers and levers, or the rollers may be anged, as indicated at 3b in Fig. 4, for this purpose. The levers are normally pressed apart, so as to assu me the released position, if permitted, by means of springs 6, which are attached to clamps l and are regulable by screws 6, tapped through the clamps, as shown in Fig. 1. Projecting laterally from the levers 2, at points adjacent to the felly B of the wheel, are pins 2, upon which are longitudinally-fluted friction rollers or shoes 2d, which are adapted to engage the felly when the upper ends ofthe levers are drawn together by the uplifting of bar 5. This bar is provided with an upstanding central arrn 5C, on the upper end of which is alug 5d, through which passes a rod 7, the rod 4being adjustably secured to the lug by a screw 5. The rod 7 extends up to an arm 7'a on one end of a rock-shaft 7b, which is journaled in a tubular bolt 8, provided with a nut 8b and securing a clamp 8 on the handle-bar. On the other end of shaft 7b is an arm 7c at right an' 'loo Ajacent to the handpiece D.

gles to arm 71L and connected by a link-rod 9a to a bent brake-actuating lever 9, journaled in a sleeve 9b, secured to the handle-bar ad- To the end of lever 9 next the handpiece is attached a thumb-piece 9C, which lies in convenient position to support comfortably the thumb of the rider whose hand grasps piece D'. It will be observed that the lever 9 is so shaped that it rocks transversely upon the handle-bar; but as it is located thereon near the handpiece it lies practically at right angles to rod 7b, and by pressing on piece 9c the rod 7 will be pulled upward and the brake applied.

Attached to the clamp 9d, securing sleeve 9b to the handle-bar, is a short ratchet-bar IO, and attached to the thumb-piece 9c is a springa'rm 91, which carries a tooth 9g, adapted to be thrown into engagement with the teeth of ratchet 10 by slightly displacing the spring 9f laterally with the thumb when pressing on lever 9. Thus the brake can be readily applied and locked while applied, if desired, and when it is desired to release the brake a slight additional pressure on lever 9C will permit spring 9f to disengage its tooth from the rack-bar. The spring, it will be understood, normally holds the tooth out of (not in) engagement with the rack-bar.

The bolts la, upon which the levers 2 are supported, may extend through and be journaled in the clamps, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and rock with the levers, and on the ends of these bolts opposite the levers are attached short arms l, on which are mounted brake-shoes 2f, similar to shoes 2d, both front and rear shoes being operated by the action of the levers 2, as is obvious.

As shown in Fig. 4, the springs Gf are at` tached to clamps 6g, adjustably secured to the sleeves, in which bolts 1a are journaled, and in this figure the clamps are double.

In some cases instead of using two camended levers and double rollers one lever 2g may be shortened, and in place of bar 5 a bar 5f may be pivoted to the shorter lever and extend toward the cam end of the opposite lever 2, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) its free end being provided with a sleeve 4f and roller 3f, engaging the cam-lever, as shown. The'bar 5f is connected to the rod 7 so as to be raised and lowered thereby, and the elfect being when the bar is raised to apply the levers and to release them when the bar is lowered, as in the first instance. The construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4L iswell adapted for the rear wheels of bicycles when chain is in the way, and the amount of compression or clamping exerted by the levers is regulable by simply adjusting the rollers inward or outward on the bar by means of nuts 5a.

The clamps permit the parts to be readily applied to various forms and makes of bicycles and like vehicles, but, if desired, the brakes can be permanently attached to any machine where it is desired to use them by providing suitable supports therefor.

The invention being once disclosed it can be easily embodied in various forms and designs within the scope of my invention. Therefore I do not wish to restrict myself to the specific forms thereof herein shown and described; but v What I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination, a wheel, a brake-lever pivoted beside the rim thereof and having ashoe adapted to engage the side rim of the wheel, and having a cam portion on its upper end, a movable bar adjacent to the upper end of the lever, and a roller on said bar engaging the cam portion of the lever substantially as described.

2. In combination, a wheel, a brake-lever pivoted beside the rim thereof, and having a cam-curved upper end, a shoe attached to the lever adapted to engage the side rimof the wheel, a movable bar adjacent to the upper end of the lever, and an adjustable roller on said bar adapted to engage the cam-surface of the lever, for the purpose and substan` tially as described.

3. In combination, a wheel, a brake-lever pivoted beside the wheel having a curved upper end projecting beyond the wheel, and a spring for throwing the lever from the wheel; with a movable bar adjacent to the upper end of the lever, a sleeve on the bar, a cam-roller on said bar engaging the cam portion of the lever, and means for adjusting the roller on the bar, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a wheel, a brake-lever pivoted beside the wheel having a curved up per end projecting beyond the wheel, a latn erally-projecting brake-shoe attached to the lever and adapted to engage the rim of the wheel when the lever is moved inward; with a movable bar adjacent to the upper end of the lever, a sleeve on the bar, a cam-roller on said sleeve engaging the cam portion of the lever, and means for shifting said sleeve on the bar, substantially as described.

5. In a brake, the combination of levers pivoted on opposite sides of the wheel and provided with devices adapted to engage the opposite sides of the felly or rim of the latter, a bar between the upper ends of said levers, and a roller on said bar engaginga lever whereby when the bar is raised the upper ends of levers are drawn together, substantially as described.

6. In a brake,.the combination of opposite levers pivoted on opposite sides of the wheel and provided with shoes adapted to engage the opposite sides of the felly or rim of the latter, a bar extending between the upper ends of said levers, a roller-and-cam connection between said bar and levers whereby when the bar is raised the upper ends of levers are drawn together, and springs for separating the levers when the bar is depressed, substantially as described.

7. In a brake, the combination of two levers disposed on opposite sides of the wheel ICO IIO

and having their upper ends bent to form cams; with a laterally-movable bar beside the upper ends of the levers, cam-rollers on said bar engaging the cam portions of said levers, and means for moving said bar, substantially as described.

8. In a brake, the combination of two opposite levers disposed. on opposite sides of the wheel and having their upper ends bent to form cams, brake-shoes on said levers adapted to engage the rim of wheel, and springs for throwing the levers apart; with a laterally-movable bar beside the upper ends of the levers, sleeves adjustably secured to the ends of said bar, and cam-rollers on said sleeves engaging the cam portions of said levers, substantially as described.

9. In a bicycle-brake, the combination of the braking devices, an actuating-lever pivoted on the handle-bar, the curved thumbpiece connected to said actuating-lever, the rack-bar beside the thumb-piece, the springcatch attached to the thumb-piece adapted to be thrown into engagement with the rackbar, and connections between the said actuating-lever and the braking devices, substantially as described.

10. In a bicycle-brake, the combination of the braking devices, the rock-shaft journaled on the handle-bar, arms attached to opposite ends of said shaft, the connection between one of said arms and the braking devices, a link connected to the other arm, an actuatinglever pivoted on the handle-bar beside the handpiece and connected to said link, and the thumb-piece attached to said actuatinglever, substantially as described.

11. In a bicycle-brake, the combination of the braking devices, the rock-shaft jonrnaled on the handle-bar, the arms attached to opposite ends of said shaft, a connection between one of said arms and the braking devices, a link connected to the other arm, an actuating-lever pivoted on the handle beside the handpiece and connected to said link, the

thumb-piece attached to said actuating-lever, a ratchet beside the thumb-piece, and the spring-catch on said thumb-piece adapted to be engaged with said ratchet, substantially as described.

12. The combination in a brake, of opposite levers having their upper ends bent to form cam portions, and pivoted at their lower ends on opposite sides of a wheel, and brake-shoes on said levers adapted to engage the rim of wheel with a movable rod, rollers adj ustably secured on the ends of said rod and engaging the cam portions of the opposite levers, and means for moving said rod, substantially as described.

13. The combination in a brake, of opposite levers having their upper ends bent to form cam portions, and pivoted at their lower ends on opposite sides of a wheel, brake-shoes on said levers adapted to engage the rim of wheel, and springs for throwing said levers apart; with a horizontally-disposed verticallymovable rod, sleeves adjustably secured on the ends of said rod, rollers attached to said sleeves engaging the cam portions of the opposite levers, means for moving said rod, and means for adjusting the sleeves on the rod, substantially as described.

14. In a bicycle-brake, the combination withthe wheel, a lever, a rock-shaft or bolt beside the rim of the wheel and connected to and rocking With said lever, an arm on the bolt opposite the lever, and opposite brakeshoes respectively attached to said arm and said lever and adapted to engage the same side of the wheel-rim, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY L. SCIIAFFNER.

Witnesses:

SPIRITO LEMAN, HOWARD J. MARTIN. 

